Arsenal struggling to agree new William Saliba deal as PSG eye cut-price swoop for defender
Arsenal are struggling to agree a new deal for William Saliba, putting Paris Saint-Germain on red alert.
The French defender has just one year remaining on his current deal worth £40,000-a-week and the Gunners are keen to get him tied down.
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According to , Arsenal are ready to offer the 22-year-old an improved contract worth £120,000-a-week as they look to build a solid defensive line to help the club challenge for top honours.
However, the north London club have been rocked by the huge demands made by the player’s representatives, leaving both parties in limbo.
The breakdown in negotiations is being closely monitored by Paris Saint-Germain who have been admirers of the centre-back for some time.
PSG’s look set for more freedom in the transfer market this summer with high-earners Lionel Messi and Neymar widely expected to leave the club.
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But Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has no plans to part with Saliba and sees him as part of the club’s long-term plans.
The Gunners are loath to see the France international run down his contract and leave on a free transfer next summer.
Arsenal are working around the clock to ensure they can reach a compromise with the defender who is believed to be one of the club’s lowest paid players.
The report states that the key to any agreement will be Arsenal’s acknowledgement of his importance to the team, bringing him in line with the salaries dished out to Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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But any wages offered to Saliba are likely to be miniscule compared to what PSG would be able to present to him, more so, with his perilous contract situation.
Saliba joined Arsenal in 2019 from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne but after spending three years on loan in his homeland, the defender has played just one full season at the Emirates Stadium.
He quickly inserted himself into the starting eleven and formed a solid defensive partnership with Gabriel as the Gunners raced away at the top of the Premier League table.
But injury picked up in a Europa League tie in March saw the Frenchman miss the remainder of the season, coinciding with a host of uncharacteristic defensive displays as Arsenal’s title dreams faded.
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The Gunners have recently agreed lengthy new deals with Bukayo Saka and Ramsdale, and hope Saliba is next to put pen to paper.
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